With winter comes the risk of
hypothermia
. Hypothermia, defined as below-normal body temperature, can be life-threatening if not promptly treated.

Risk Increases as You Age

According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), older people have an increased risk for hypothermia. As people age, the natural ability to keep warm in the cold may decrease. Inactivity, illness, and certain medications make it even harder to stay warm. Learn the signs of hypothermia. The sooner treatment starts, the better the outcome.

Early signs of hypothermia include:

Shivering

Paleness

Cold hands and feet

Slow, slurred speech

Sleepiness

Confusion or anger

Clumsiness

Late signs of hypothermia may include:

Unusual changes in behavior

Trouble walking

Slow movement

Shallow breathing

Loss of consciousness

Call for emergency medical services right away if you think you or a loved one may have hypothermia.

Tips to Help You Stay Warm

Hypothermia is preventable. Some tips for avoiding hypothermia include:

Find out if you are at risk. Ask your doctor if the prescription or over-the-counter medications you take can affect how your body regulates temperature.

Dress warmly in layers of clothing, even when indoors. Hypothermia can occur in bed, so wear warm clothing to bed and use blankets.

Keep your hands and head covered and warm when outside in cold weather.

If you get wet on a cool fall or spring day, be sure to come inside to a warm room and dry off. Remove wet clothes as soon as you can.

Ask friends or neighbors to visit you once or twice a day if you live alone. See if your local community has a telephone check-in or personal visit service.

Use alcohol moderately, if at all. Avoid alcohol near bedtime. Some people think wrongly that alcohol is helpful in cold weather because it makes people feel warm and flushed. But that warmth occurs because alcohol causes blood vessels in our hands and face to open up and draw heat from the deep parts of the body to the surface. As a result, alcohol causes us to lose heat and is an important cause of hypothermia.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.